Kodak demonstrates powerful solutions at IPEX 2006

Kodak demonstrates powerful solutions at IPEX 2006 : Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group (GCG) will demonstrate the power and added-value it brings to customers through its integrated offering. This encompasses image capture through professional digital photography equipment, scanning and document imaging; powerful new workflow tools; and a host of output options including digital proofs and printing plates; black-and-white and full color production digital printing; and high-speed industrial ink-jet printing. These powerful solutions will be demonstrated on Kodak’s booth at IPEX 2006.

Kodak - IPEX 2006
“We have achieved a number of key milestones over recent months, and IPEX provides us with a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the strength and breadth of Kodak’s offering in graphic arts to a worldwide audience, as well as being the launch platform for some exciting product introductions,” stated Israel Sandler, Vice President and Managing Director of Kodak’s GCG in EAMER. “Our commitment to customers extends far beyond the sale of equipment. Within GCG we have best-of-breed products and the most talented people in the industry, so we are able to provide our customers with vital expertise to help them transform their own businesses.”

Kodak MAGNUS 800 platesetter CTP imaging device
IPEX will be the global launch of the new Kodak MAGNUS 800 platesetter. This B1 format CTP imaging device is designed to make production and makeready even faster and delivers extremely high throughput of up to 40 plates per hour. The model completes the highly successful MAGNUS family of platesetters, which spans B3 to VLF format.

Kodak Enterprise Management Solution
The exhibition also marks the European debut of the Kodak Enterprise Management Solution (EMS), a complete business workflow solution for the graphic communications industry that represents a new approach to print management information systems (MIS). Kodak’s full service strategy for the graphic communications market was validated at last September’s Print 05 show in Chicago. “Customers are clearly recognising Kodak’s ability to deliver what they need to grow their businesses and improve profits, whether they are in digital, conventional or blended production environments. We’re looking forward to taking that message to IPEX,” added Sandler.

Kodak innovations
Kodak has invested more than $2.3 billion since 2003 to create what will become the largest supplier to the graphic arts industry, with more than 100,000 customers. During the last six months Kodak has integrated six of the industry’s leading companies to form the GCG while at the same time the company has introduced a host of innovative products and solutions, including:
• A new all-in-one processless CTP package incorporating Kodak Thermal Direct non process plates, the Kodak MAGNUS 400 CTP imaging device and the Kodak Prinergy Evo PDF processor.
• The Kodak NexPress 2100 plus and NexPress 2500 digital production color presses. This new family of color presses features a highly modular platform for maximum configuration flexibility.
• A hybrid offset/digital press in partnership with Muller Martini. The Muller Martini Concepta hybrid offset/digital press features Kodak’s high-speed continuous inkjet technology. It prints variable information in-line with a four-color offset printing press at speeds of up to 1,000 feet per minute.
• The Kodak Matchprint Inkjet Proofing Solution: The first drop-on-demand proofing solution to be based on powerful Kodak-developed software, including innovative screening and calibration technologies and a new Certified Process for Color Confirmation.
• The Thermoflex Narrow Flexo-Offset computer-to-plate (CTP) device. Based on the industry-proven Thermoflex CTP technology platform, this device provides users with the flexibility to image offset plates in addition to flexographic and letterpress plates and film - all on one device.
• The new Kodak Violet print printing plate for the commercial print market followed the successful introduction of Kodak’s Violet News plate for the newspaper market. The Kodak Violet print plate delivers not only high productivity, but also low platemaking costs, twin benefits that have been substantiated during customer testing. The plate is compatible with all the market leading violet platesetters with 30mW laser power or greater.
• New workflow tools. Kodak is unifying traditional and digital printing processes, delivering greater automation, integrating business systems, and providing an extensive web production portal for customer and printer collaboration. Enhancements such as the new Layered PDF Versioning and Rules-based Automation features in the Prinergy 3.0 workflow management system dramatically extends the scope and power of process automation within the workflow.

Kodak technology demonstration - IPEX 2006
At IPEX Kodak technology will be featured in the JDF Pavilion and on a number of partner stands, including a Kodak Magnus 800 platesetter running on the KBA booth. Kodak is also providing a complete prepress solution for the official IPEX Daily newspaper, which will be will be printed using Kodak Thermal Direct non process plates. The IPEX Daily will be produced entirely on-site at the exhibition and the Kodak prepress solution encompasses a Prinergy workflow spanning image capture to plate production and includes editorial and advertising page production; imposition, page and monitor proofing. The IPEX Daily workflow can be seen on the separate IPEX Daily production booth.

About Eastman Kodak company
Kodak is the leader in helping people take, share, print, and view images - for memories, for information, for business, and for entertainment. With sales of $13.5 billion in 2004, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on four businesses: Digital & Film Imaging Systems - providing consumers, professionals, and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; Health - supplying the medical and dental professions with traditional and digital imaging and information systems, IT solutions, and services; Graphic Communications – providing customers with a range of solutions for prepress, traditional and digital printing, document scanning, and multi-vendor IT services; and Display & Components - supplying original equipment manufacturers with imaging sensors as well as intellectual property and materials for the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and LCD display industries.